I am only a little Gypsy 1 - Reincarnation, does it exist? - 26. Chapter 26. Sneaking as a cat; and our mad porcupine.

Immediately after the oldest kids told us to have fun, each paired couple started to walk away as silently as possible. All our pairs were taking different courses, to go to their old traps first and gather their last caught animals. Then, they would take their old snares towards our much more dangerous 'dense forests', to set their new traps as far away from our camp as would be safe, before they returned to our waterfall to wait there for the others until everyone would be present.

Misha beckoned Jonno and me to follow him into some very thick shrubbery at the other end of our 'cathedral' clearing. Determinedly, our very experienced guide started to pave his way through the dense undergrowth, as if he knew exactly where he wanted to go. Within a few seconds after we started to follow Misha into the shrubbery, we didn't have the faintest idea where we were, so that Jonno and I just followed our guide's easy trail through the dense shrubs. Surprisingly, our very experienced Real Trapper guide seemed to know exactly where he wanted to go, even in what looked like the densest of dense shrubbery, and he only now and then stopped to wait for us.

After stopping and waiting until Jonno and I had caught up with him, Misha disappeared again into the undergrowth, so that we again started to follow his human trail. How did Misha know exactly where he had to go, even in this dense undergrowth, although he couldn't see anything recognizable to orientate? I wanted to learn that too! Would my already very experienced older trapper friend, Misha, want to be my very experienced 'trapper teacher' as well?

All the time, Jonno and I continued to follow Misha's easy trail at a short distance, knowing that our experienced trapper guide would watch over us. In the meantime, my bright brainiac brain started to think. Because I could be sure that we would never get lost in our surrounding woods while Misha watched over us, perhaps, I could start trying to follow Misha's easy human trail by pretending I was already an experienced 'real trapper'? HEY, this thought sounded like a marvelous idea! Yeah, this was what I would do from now on, to train my 'natural trapper abilities' in advance and thus become an experienced 'real trapper' as soon as possible!

Impatiently, I waited until Misha stopped again and waited for Jonno and me to show up, before he turned around and again disappeared into some dense underground. This time, I waited first, until I couldn't see or hear our experienced guide anymore. Only after our experienced Real Trapper guide had disappeared completely, I started to follow his too easy human trail, still closely followed by Jonno who all the time seemed to be glued to my back. Happily, I first started concentrating on Misha's faint footsteps, and then on any other telltale signs like disturbed branches and cracked twigs, instead of just following our experienced guide. Concentrating on only those faint signs turned out to be quite a lot more difficult, but it was also a lot more fun than just following our guide's easy trail!

In the meantime, Jonno had been following me extremely close by, almost as if he was afraid he would get lost if he couldn't see me anymore. Now and then, he also bumped into me or grabbed my arm! Only, this way, Jonno was spoiling all my 'trapper training', because his irritating closeness prevented me from concentrating on any really difficult telltale signs. Why didn't Jonno keep more distance from me? He too could be sure there wasn't any risk of getting lost, because our experienced guide would watch over us all the time!

In the next small clearing, Misha stopped again, first waited until both Jonno and I showed up, and then whispered:

"Could you please stop plowing around like mad porcupines, because any wary animals can hear you from miles away, so that they will flee towards our surrounding mountains and stay there until next spring shows up. From now on, start walking as if you are a hunting cat, striding noiselessly through the dense shrubs, avoiding all those cracking dry branches and unexpectedly rolling pebbles, and even breathing in and out without making any sounds at all."

Feeling truly impressed, both Jonno and I nodded in agreement, as well-behaving kids. Of course, Misha was right, because I too thought that Jonno had been making way too many unnecessary noises! However, although I was sure that only Jonno had been too loud, I decided not to mention it. I only hoped the annoying brat would be more cautious from now on and start keeping a lot more distance from me, instead of at least every ten seconds grabbing my arm or bumping into my back and thus spoiling all my trapper fun.

Looking satisfied, Misha motioned us to follow him again, before he turned around and disappeared into another very dense shrubbery. Again, I waited until I couldn't see or hear our experienced trapper guide anymore, except for only some faint scratching sound when he carefully unfolded a few entwined branches before he disappeared completely. Soon, even that faint scratching sound was gone, so that Jonno and I seemed to be all alone in our surrounding woods. Wow! Our experienced trapper guide was really extremely good at sneaking noiselessly. He was a truly excellent Real Trapper, and I certainly wanted to learn that too!

Again, I started to follow Misha's human trail, by looking for any disturbed branches. This time, I also tried to sneak as noiselessly as I could through the dense undergrowth, by trying to behave as a hunting cat that was following its wary prey without making any unnecessary noises at all... Almost immediately, and very much to my dismay, I was taken aback again by all those loud noises from our 'mad porcupine'. Again, Jonno was following me way too close by, walking clumsily whilst plodding wildly through the dense undergrowth. This time, the brat didn't even look where he went! Whilst following me blindly, he again bumped into me and this time also rudely grabbed my waist, as if he wanted to glue himself against my tiny frame.

Now, I became really angry with Jonno, because his behavior was making it totally impossible for me to behave as a silently hunting cat following its wary prey. How in the world would I ever be able to become our youngest trained 'Real Trapper' ever, now that I wasn't able to hear my own footsteps anymore? Angrily, I turned around, grabbed Jonno's trembling shoulders, and hissed at him:

"Please, stop making those unnecessarily noises behind my back! This way, I cannot even hear myself anymore, because you are again plodding around like a 'mad porcupine'. From now on, please stay away from me and proceed as Misha explained, striding noiselessly whilst sneaking like a hunting cat following its wary prey."

Again, I started to follow Misha's human trail, pretending I was a hunting cat slinking stealthily through the dense undergrowth whilst sneaking after a wary prey that tried to escape from my sharp claws...

Within only a few steps, our wildly plodding 'mad porcupine' bumped into my back and grabbed my waist again, thereby again screwing up all my trapper training! This time, I almost exploded with ire, while I involuntarily balled my fists. Ultimately, I hadn't ASKED Jonno to steal my friend Misha from me and thus screw up my training! How DARED the annoying prankster follow me this closely and again ruin my trapper training, by rudely bumping into my back and grabbing my waist. This way, I would NEVER be able to train myself to sneak noiselessly, like a hunting cat following its wary prey!

Fortunately, and probably just in time, I repressed my urge to kick and pummel the brat until he finally listened to Misha and me. Whilst unclenching my already balled fists, I stormed towards Misha and burst out:

"Misha, how the heck can I ever practice my natural trapper skills as a silently sneaking cat following its prey, with such a truck full of rattling cutlery following me closely and bumping into my back all the time? That stupid dork is spoiling all my trapper fun!"

Very much to my surprise, Misha first pulled me against his chest, obviously to calm me down. Then, he whispered into my ear:

"Please, little man, calm down, stop shouting, and count to ten first before allowing yourself to become angry like this. Not everybody in our camp can be our youngest 'natural trapper' ever, and doing better than Jonno doesn't necessarily make you a better human being. Today, you are acting more like a spoiled brat! Therefore, please, be more patient with Jonno, because he cannot help being scared. Eventually, he too will learn sneaking through all those dense shrubs without feeling too scared or making too many unnecessary noises."

Huh? Suddenly feeling confused, I turned around and looked at Jonno who seemed to be crying. Could I have heard this correct? Did Misha tell me that Jonno could not HELP spoiling my fun and ruining my trapper training? Could Jonno really be scared of being left alone in those dense shrubs? Quickly, I suppressed my anger, by regulating my breath so that my fury calmed down. Then, I restarted to think Misha's words over.

Of course, my older friend could be right about me behaving more like some 'spoiled brat'. Why in the world should Jonno have to hinder himself, only to let ME have some more fun? Supposed it really wasn't Jonno's fault that he couldn't sneak through those dense shrubs like me; although, being around two years older, he surely would be able to outdo me in many other important things. Therefore, was I really so much better than Jonno?

Whilst thinking like this, I started to feel even more ashamed of my bratty behavior. Clearly, I still had to learn to be more tolerant with others who were not as 'bright' and as 'natural' as I always supposed I could be...

In the meantime, still timidly looking at his feet, Jonno had started to sniffle even more, until he mumbled under his breath:

"I am really trying to do what I can! But this forest is too creepy, and I am always afraid to be left alone and get murdered..."

After hearing Jonno's mumbled explanation, I started to feel even more ashamed of my bratty behavior. Until now, I never thought that Jonno could be this afraid of being left alone in our woods and getting murdered, which would be absolutely impossible, because Misha would protect us with his own life if ever necessary. Then, I also recalled what Jonno once told us he could remember about a 'past life' where he had been attacked and murdered in a dark and creepy forest. Now, I felt even more ashamed of my too bratty behavior!

Facing my still sobbing companion, I could clearly see how scared Jonno was in reality, with his teary puppy dog eyes and still running little pug nose... Suddenly feeling full of compassion and wanting to offer him my well-meant excuses, I put my arms around Jonno's trembling waist and whispered into his ear:

"Jonno, I am very sorry for my angry outburst, because I hadn't realized you could be scared of being left alone and getting murdered. Therefore, I was really acting as a spoiled brat. But I promise that, from now on, I will try to be quite a lot friendlier, and I will also try to better my own too bratty behavior..."

At hearing my whispered confession, Misha's face lit up as a torch, while he grabbed my waist and lifted me high into the air. Nearly crushing my small ribs in between his strong arms, he first swung me around and around a couple of times, before he put me back onto my feet and whispered with a happy sounding voice:

"Little man, this is the Royal Gypsy Spirit that I love most in you! Going on like this, I'm sure that you will become an excellent Gypsy Leader after your Dad becomes too old, with lots of mercy and compassion for any troubled subjects."

At hearing Misha's unexpected compliment, I involuntarily started to blush fiercely. Not knowing anymore where I should look, I could only stare at my feet. Until now, I never knew that showing mercy or compassion could make such a big difference...

In the meantime, Misha helped Jonno dry his teary eyes and blow his still runny nose in a few tufts of moss. A few seconds later, Jonno turned towards me and promised he would at least try to make fewer unwanted noises from now on. Could I please also try to have some more patience with his too clumsy 'mad porcupine' way of sneaking?

Feeling both happy and grateful, I put my arms around the still sniffling brat; until Jonno stopped crying altogether, put his own arms around my waist, and hugged me back! Jonno's unexpected reaction made me realize that, this time, I had made another good friend, by just accepting him for who or what he was. Wow, this was another important lesson that I had to keep in mind forever!

Clearly wanting to speed things up, Misha tried to offer us another way of going to our old traps and emptying them first:

"May I suggest that Jonno and I will go first towards our old traps, so that I can teach him a couple of important things in advance; while Harold sneaks after our combined human trails from a small distance? Please, don't be afraid anymore, because I will go on keeping a very close eye on both you and Harold. How does this sound?"

Immediately feeling enthusiastic again, I whispered:

"Misha, this sounds like an excellent idea! Could I please go first? In which direction do you want me to start sneaking?"

Much to my happiness, Misha nodded in agreement. For a second, he seemed to feel around, before he pointed ahead and told me:

"Okay, then start walking towards where I am pointing now, while Jonno and I are following you from a small distance."

Again feeling like a little adventurer, I started to sneak through the dense undergrowth, whilst trying to stride as noiselessly as I could. Of course, I was still pretending to be a hunting cat sneaking after a wary prey. Only, this time, I also wanted to show off to Jonno, to let him see how even our smallest 'runt' could sneak through the undergrowth without making any unnecessary noises at all...

Almost immediately, and very much to my disappointment, my endeavors turned out to be a disaster! Although my sneaking didn't sound like a 'truck full of rattling cutlery', as Jonno's plodding had done, it also didn't exactly sound 'silent'. Everywhere I went, I seemed to be making unintentional noises, and I just couldn't help it. Being untrained as I was, I just didn't know how to avoid any unexpectedly cracking dry twigs, nastily swishing tiny branches, and treacherously rolling pebbles. Every time I took another step, my movements were creating even more unintentional noises that reverberated against all the trees and entwined shrubs around me, at least to my sensitive ears that seemed to pick up absolutely everything. Had it really been ME who had criticized poor Jonno so much? Gulp...

After trying to 'sneak like a hunting cat' for a few more minutes, I decided that my too clumsy way of 'sneaking' didn't make any sense. Feeling disappointed, I slumped down on a mossy boulder, and started to wait for Misha and Jonno. Of course, they had followed my noisy sound track shaking their heads whilst laughing at their little Prince's clumsy way of 'sneaking'. Who was here the real 'mad porcupine'? Clearly, I could better go home and wait until I had grown up some first! Whilst burying my face in my hands, I started to wait for my two companions, to show up and laugh at my clumsiness...

Even after quite some time of waiting for Misha and Jonno to show up and laugh at me, still nobody showed up. Slowly, I started to feel a little bit impatient, so that I took my hands from my face and started to look around for any signs of my approaching friends. Could Misha have forgotten to follow me, or had he decided to go on with only Jonno, but without me? What if Misha was too disappointed in my 'trapper skills', after hearing my truck full of rattling cutlery? What if he didn't want to guide this second 'mad porcupine' anymore? Should I now go home and forget about becoming a better 'natural trapper', until I had grown up some more first?

However, how would I ever find my way back home, without Misha's trapper help? I was absolutely sure I would get lost immediately and probably perish in our surrounding woods from hunger and thirst. Would those hungry wolves come down from their mountains, during the night, to search our forests for food, and then find me here all alone? Involuntarily, I started to look around for a sturdy branch with a sharp point, to be able to defend myself against any hungry predators if necessary...

Then, my extremely sensitive ears picked up a faint sound from a rolling small pebble, a dry twig cracked, and a branch swished. There was Misha, of course closely followed by Jonno, and obviously still looking for me! Walking next to each other, both Misha and Jonno were looking around everywhere, as if trying to find my footsteps but until now being unable to find any visible trails at all. Now and then, they stopped and listened for any telltale sounds, before looking even more wary and going on searching through the surrounding shrubs.

But, then, Misha and Jonno had NOT been following my too loud 'truck full of rattling cutlery' trail! Perhaps, after all, my 'too clumsy' sneaking had been quite a lot better than I had assumed in my silly self-pity. Could my extremely sensitive ears have had to do with this, next to always automatically wiping my own visible human trail, as my built-in 'little trapper friend' had already taught me in advance? Obviously, my inherited 'natural trapper' skills from my past life as a 'little trapper boy' had been quite a lot better than I thought.

By thinking like this, I was starting to feel much better! Suddenly feeling a little bit naughty, I decided to tease Misha and Jonno some first, before allowing them to find me. Quickly, I crouched down behind my boulder, where I made my tiny frame as invisible as I could, by using some stray forest litter. As if playing hide and seek, I also regulated my breath, as I normally always did to be able to sit or lie absolutely still. Being prepared like this, I started to wait...

Whilst waiting, I also remembered some more from my past life as a 'little trapper boy' who sometimes teased his 'trapper Dad', by trying to hide away from his Dad's strange but truly effective 'bat sight'. Today, I found out that my former Dad hadn't been a 'bat', but he had only used his own very powerful Shaman and Cosmic Mage abilities to sense around and then pinpoint my enveloping human aura. By doing this, he could always find me, easily and everywhere! Wow, I never knew that my former trapper Dad had been at least such a powerful Shaman and Cosmic Mage as I seemed to be.

A few seconds after I hid away behind my boulder, Misha reached my outstretched legs and nearly stumbled over them. However, very much to my surprise, he seemed to overlook me totally, although he was looking around everywhere! And NO, I did NOT use any sneaky 'Shaman tricks' to make myself invisible by wiping my own picture from Misha's visual mind! Involuntarily, I started to wonder... Could I really be that good at hiding, so that even such a thoroughly trained natural trapper couldn't find me? Or, had my built-in 'little trapper friend' been using a dirty trick, by secretly blurring the vision of this 'human animal' that tried to find me? Involuntarily, I started to snicker, although I quickly bit my tongue to suppress the sound.

Immediately when Misha heard my suppressed sound, he stopped dead in his tracks and looked down with a surprised face, because he had heard my snickering but still couldn't see me. Hastily, he started to sweep the little bit of heaped forest litter away, until he finally saw my bright blue eyes and enormous smile from ear to ear. For a few more seconds, my older friend and experienced guide only stared at me, with both amazement and pride in his deep brown eyes. Then, he scooped me up from the ground and nearly kissed my little nose from sheer happiness! Clearly, my 'too clumsy' way of sneaking had made a very deep impression on my experienced Real Trapper friend!

At that same moment, our real 'mad porcupine' showed up, clearly trying to find out why Misha suddenly disappeared from his vision. Blindly, he went on plowing forward whilst charging wildly through the thick undergrowth. In his tremendous hurry, he nearly trotted past us, until Misha called him. Hastily, he stopped, looked around, and then raced up to us at full speed.

Gently, Misha threw his strong arms around our again loudly sobbing Jonno and tried to calm him down, by whispering into his ear:

"Shush, shush! Please calm down, stop crying, and try not to make all those loud noises! Now tell me, what happened?"

"Sniff... I didn't see you anymore, and I was again afraid you had left me all alone in this creepy forest..."

"Well, as you can see for yourself, I've never left you alone but only went on searching for Harold until I found him. Come on, let's again blow your nose and dry your tears."

Again, Misha helped Jonno blow his runny nose and dry his puffy eyes with a few tufts of moss. Again, Jonno pulled himself together and promised to behave from now on. Only, his still teary eyes were betraying his promises, because they were still showing lots of fear...

This time, even Misha seemed to feel frustrated, as he whispered:

"I suggest that we go straight towards our old traps, to empty them and then take our old snares with us. Jonno can stay at my side, while Harold follows us from a small distance to give himself some more 'sneaking cat' training. Shall we do that?"

Still feeling proud, I responded to Misha's whispers:

"Yes, this sounds like an even better idea! Do you really know the way to our old traps from here, in the middle of nowhere?"

Looking a little bit affronted, Misha answered:

"Duh, what do you think?"

Of course, I was already sure that our experienced Real Trapper guide would know his way anywhere and probably even blindfolded! At the same time, my curious inside still wanted to know why Misha always seemed to feel around first, just before he started to pave his way through the dense undergrowth. Could my older friend have sort of a built-in compass that showed in which direction he had to go? Or, could our traps be 'pulling' at his enveloping aura, so that he could sense in which direction he had to go? Sensing surrounding auras was what I had been doing several times before, during our usual games of 'hide and seek' around our caravans whilst searching for my friends.

Only, my hiding friends had been living human beings, while our traps were only dead pieces of metal strand! Could dead things have auras too that were pulling at us with their energy? For a few seconds, I remained still and tried to sense around, just like Misha had been doing, to concentrate only on my own trap and its 'pulling' energy. Unfortunately, too many different forest energies were pulling at my aura, so that they confused my inherited Shaman sensitivities, plus I still didn't know what kind of special energy I had to look for. Clearly, I still had to learn quite a lot more first, as usual...

Feeling a little bit frustrated, I made a mental note to ask Misha about those different kinds of forest energies, as soon as we stopped being silent, so that I would be able to ask him my burning questions. Meanwhile, Misha had already started to teach Jonno how to slink through the dense undergrowth without making any noises. Together, they disappeared into the thick bushes, where Misha patiently showed Jonno how to avoid stepping on all those unexpectedly cracking dry branches and treacherously rolling small pebbles.

Inwardly, I envied Misha for having so much patience with our extremely clumsy Jonno. I wanted to learn THAT too!